I just thought I would note that the output of an XM-L T6 LED is entirely driver dependent, 3 amps is about the maximum the LED can take, and XM-L T6 LEDs are around 300 lumens per watt and driven at about 40 percent efficiency. If this is actually a 2.8 or 3 amp driver it might actually approach its rated lumens, but I seriously doubt it. Without a rating for the driver the amount of light and run time of the light is totally unknown.

Claymore

Senior Member - 2K

posted: Jan. 19, 2013 @ 8:06a

OK, so do you have to use 18650's with it or can you use AAs or more common rechargables for occasional use?

I have some 18650's for my airplanes but they obviously limit the utility of the light.

DirtCheap

Senior Member - 1K

posted: Jan. 19, 2013 @ 8:45a

Claymore said: OK, so do you have to use 18650's with it or can you use AAs or more common rechargables for occasional use?

I have some 18650's for my airplanes but they obviously limit the utility of the light.

--I don't think you can use AA's or AAA's. I use it with one 18650 and it lasts very long, the output is excellent IMO.

something have always wanted to ask on those 18650 batteries. is there a good and bad, I grabbed an untrafire with a cheap recharger. I have only used it once but was wondering if there is bad or good with these

They would if they really were 5000mah. 18650 and other li-ions are often severely exaggerated in capacity from companies like Ultrafire, Trustfire, etc. The '5000mah' would be lucky to be over 2000mah in reality. The highest true capacity of an 18650 currently available in standard 4.2V is around 3000mah or so. The cheap brands like Ultrafire are generally fine for something like this. If you want a high quality battery that really meets its advertised capacity, buy something like a Panasonic, Sanyo, or Samsung.

They would if they really were 5000mah. 18650 and other li-ions are often severely exaggerated in capacity from companies like Ultrafire, Trustfire, etc. The '5000mah' would be lucky to be over 2000mah in reality. The highest true capacity of an 18650 currently available in standard 4.2V is around 3000mah or so. The cheap brands like Ultrafire are generally fine for something like this. If you want a high quality battery that really meets its advertised capacity, buy something like a Panasonic, Sanyo, or Samsung.

wow...I should have done research

there are no 5000mah batteries, they're all fakes....the highest possible are 3400

ironman69 said: I am in. Someone point me to the best charger? On the road right now and searching is tough...thanks.

You can get chargers for 18650's for $5 or $6 but these don't dissipate heat well so I run a desktop fan pointed at the charger.

The Nitecore I4 charger ($20) will charge 18650, 16340(RCR123), 14500, 10440, 17500, 18490, 17670, 22650, 26650, AA, AAA, and C (2 at a time in I4). I charged two 18650's and 2 RCR123's in the Nitecore I4 and I monitored it with none of the batts getting hot or warm. There is also a Nitcore I2 to charge 2 batteries.

...especially for those of us wanting to stick with alkalines or plain rechargeable batteries?

Thanks.

p.s. I like white light and "floodier" rather then narrow throw lights. Thanks again.

--

The Defiant 550 from HD is brighter, however, it's bigger and longer, hard to carry it around. This FL (the one I have has the name RONG LI) is small, convenience to carry around or in car compartment.

--Like I've said above, I have "almost" everything.This one is the best of all. Here are just a few, may be half of what I owned, believe me, you can't go wrong with this one.

That Amazon flashlight is good cause it uses the very common AA. And it put out a very good amount of light too. Fully charged AA it can run for about 1.5 or 2hrs maybe a bit more. It only have on/off mode.

The OP flashlight put out more light on high mode. It has other modes for longer run time (more choices). But even on high it last longer than the AA.

I got this instead http://www.meritline.com/showproduct.aspx?ProductID=86910&SEName... for the smaller size. Easier to pocket, light more spread out but can be focus if wanted. Down side of this focus system is some of the light is lost. So it uses the same battery and same LED as OP's light, but it's not as bright because of the no deflector. No deflector means no hot spot(the super bright circle in the middle) even fully focused, but than I don't really like the hot spot cause it's blinding. Without hotspot this isn't so good for distance, focused light is good for maybe 1 or 1.5 football field distance and is good enough for me. Your Amazon AA flashlight uses the same focusing system as this, just not as bright or last as long and a bit smaller in size.

attached pic..... grey is the 18650 battery, green is the AA, green flashlight is your Amazon AA flashlight, and black is the one I said i got instead of the OPs.

yoregano

Thrifty Member

posted: Jan. 21, 2013 @ 12:11p

Name of store should be in subject line.

gpturner

Cranky Member

posted: Jan. 21, 2013 @ 1:34p

Title is wrong it states 100 Lumen, it should read 1000, but in reality is most likely ~700-800 but that is really bright. T6 is the latest best LED right now. It will not be brighter with 2X batteries and that is a moot quistion anyway since you can only fit 1 18650 in it. Same issue with the sugestions about AAs and AAAs you would need to figure out how to put cram three in there to just light it up. The option you have is to put two 3V CR123 batteries or two equivlent 3.7 Li Ion batteries in it. Most lights that take a single 18650 will physically fit the two CR123s you just have to make sure that it is rated to take that much voltage, this particular one is rated up to 9V so it is good with two CR123s. But note it will not be any brighter.

Just wondering, if you get your 18650's from old laptop batteries that wont charge, how do you get them to work?

Skipping 65 Messages...

jeffc

Senior Member

posted: Jun. 29, 2013 @ 8:18a

I have this light for some time now. Great light; the best and brightest I have ever had. It was $10 from Meritline and another $3 for a 18650 charger and $3 for two Ultrafire batteries. $16 bucks--deal!

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